Tethmes
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
Good day friends!
This weekend I attended my first Jeep related event, and all I can say is wow! What an absolute blast! It was the 21st Annual Jeep Blessing at Ellens Corners in Mesick MI, and to be honest I wasn't really sure what to expect. My parents only live about 20 minutes from the event, and they've attended the last two years. Well, '21 and '19 anyway due to reasons. As soon as I got my JL last month, my Dad invited us up for the weekend to bash it around at the Blessing. I was a bit apprehensive honestly, given that until this trip, I didn't even have 1k miles on the new Jeep. But what better way to break it in right? (or break it...)
A couple takeaways after running the first 2 difficulty levels in a stock Willys Sport behind my Dad's slightly modified TJ.
Anyway, here's some pics and a couple videos of the weekend. I hope you all enjoy, I know I did!
Our convoy heading to the Blessing.
We have arrived! '02 TJ Sport (Dad, 2.5 inch lift + leveling kit w/ 33's), '12 JKUR (Mom, stock w/ 33's), '22 JL Willys Sport (Me, stock)
20 minutes after gates opened, people rolling in nonstop.
Video of parking/staging area
I even got my first official ducking! (I don't count the one the dealer gave me)
If you can call it a duck.
The menu:
Some aerial shots of a couple courses:
Lookit me go!
This Liberty had to be winched out a few times, but good on him for sending it!
And then we came to this hill on the left. Waiting in line I got the same feeling in the stomach I get waiting for a roller coaster.
Looking at it straight on:
And OOPS!!! Fell into a hole before cresting the hill and completely bottomed out. There's that take away I mentioned earlier coming into play. With different tires I feel I would have made it. This was my third attempt, decided to bypass after this one. Didn't want to risk damage pushing it any harder.
Big thank you and shout out to @sandratfab (facebook or twitter I'm guessing? I don't have either unfortunately) for the tug!
Waiting while some unfortunate soul waited for a tow off the course after getting busted up on a concrete section.
The mud pit had a few victims as well. This brand new JLUR did drive away after a failed run, but from the way it sounded, i doubt it drove very far.
This one said his EFI computer just shut down about 30 feet into his run. Unfortunate too, from his start he looked like he would have made it.
Here's a stock rubi that made it though. Seems like sticking to the far left of the pit was the key to victory.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the compilation, it was a great weekend!
This weekend I attended my first Jeep related event, and all I can say is wow! What an absolute blast! It was the 21st Annual Jeep Blessing at Ellens Corners in Mesick MI, and to be honest I wasn't really sure what to expect. My parents only live about 20 minutes from the event, and they've attended the last two years. Well, '21 and '19 anyway due to reasons. As soon as I got my JL last month, my Dad invited us up for the weekend to bash it around at the Blessing. I was a bit apprehensive honestly, given that until this trip, I didn't even have 1k miles on the new Jeep. But what better way to break it in right? (or break it...)
A couple takeaways after running the first 2 difficulty levels in a stock Willys Sport behind my Dad's slightly modified TJ.
- I ALMOST ordered a Sport without the Willys package to save some money. Boy am I glad I didn't. Every section where the TJ lost traction due to articulation, the JL did not thanks to the LSD. It performed flawlessly. Also very grateful for the factory rock rails. Though I didn't bottom out on any rocks, I came down hard while cresting some dirt obstacles a few times. I know from experience with past vehicles that those hits would have dented the rockers. If you are on the fence about ordering Willys and plan to do any off roading at all, it is worth it in my opinion.
- I now know for sure what my first mods will be. WIDER tires (as well as upgrading to 33's), and ditching that front air dam, even if I don't immediately get an upgraded bumper. Both of these were contributing factors to the one time I had to be winched out this weekend. (pics and story of that below)
Anyway, here's some pics and a couple videos of the weekend. I hope you all enjoy, I know I did!
Our convoy heading to the Blessing.
We have arrived! '02 TJ Sport (Dad, 2.5 inch lift + leveling kit w/ 33's), '12 JKUR (Mom, stock w/ 33's), '22 JL Willys Sport (Me, stock)
20 minutes after gates opened, people rolling in nonstop.
Video of parking/staging area
I even got my first official ducking! (I don't count the one the dealer gave me)
If you can call it a duck.
The menu:
Some aerial shots of a couple courses:
Lookit me go!
This Liberty had to be winched out a few times, but good on him for sending it!
And then we came to this hill on the left. Waiting in line I got the same feeling in the stomach I get waiting for a roller coaster.
Looking at it straight on:
And OOPS!!! Fell into a hole before cresting the hill and completely bottomed out. There's that take away I mentioned earlier coming into play. With different tires I feel I would have made it. This was my third attempt, decided to bypass after this one. Didn't want to risk damage pushing it any harder.
Big thank you and shout out to @sandratfab (facebook or twitter I'm guessing? I don't have either unfortunately) for the tug!
Waiting while some unfortunate soul waited for a tow off the course after getting busted up on a concrete section.
The mud pit had a few victims as well. This brand new JLUR did drive away after a failed run, but from the way it sounded, i doubt it drove very far.
This one said his EFI computer just shut down about 30 feet into his run. Unfortunate too, from his start he looked like he would have made it.
Here's a stock rubi that made it though. Seems like sticking to the far left of the pit was the key to victory.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the compilation, it was a great weekend!
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